“THE STAR”, Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - PAGE 19
Heritage home: Michael Sidell and Anne Vale are preserving a piece of South Gippsland’s past as they restore Koonwarra’s homestead Cluanie.
CAMILLE Olive Moore was born on July 22 at the Leongatha Hospital. Camille is the first girl for Glenn and Caroline of Kilcunda and sister for her two big brothers Archie, 5, and Axl, 3.
Couple brings past to life By Brad Lester NEW life is being injected into a historic property at Koonwarra.
HENDRIX Thomas Lia is the third child for Frank and Connie Lia from Mirboo North, born at Leongatha Hospital on July 20.Hendrix is a baby brother for Miley, 4 and Ruby Sue,3.
RYDER Hyslop was born at Bass Coast Health on July 15 to Ebonie Welsford and Damien Hyslop of Cape Woolamai. A new brother for EmmaLee, 4 years old.
CHARLI Ava White is the third daughter for Russ and Amy White of Leongatha South. She was born at the Leongatha Hospital on July 15 and is a little sister for Mackenzie, 3 and Lacey, 21months.
Happenings at Milpara - Korumburra’s Community House AUGUST is a month jam packed with courses that are useful and improve your employability. These include: Construction Induction, Apply First Aid, CPR, Administration of Adrenaline for Anaphylaxis, Chemical Users Course (2 day course), Food Safety Training both Level 1 and Supervisors,Responsible Service of Alcoholand Reckon Accounts (QuickBooks). For dates and details please call us on 56552524. It’s not too late to learn to play Bridge with a Beginner Class running throughout August. Computers are becoming a big part of people’s lives these days; to help we are offering some great classes. Cyber Smart Families will help ensure your family has a positive experienceand give you the confi-
dence to track internet use. This will be held on Saturday, August 15. Cloud Computing is all about cloud computer storage. What is it? How do I use it? Come find out Tuesday August 18. Social Media is quite the buzz word. It has opened up the opportunity for people to create, share or exchange ideas, pictures and videos. Come and learn about some of the popular social media like Facebook, Instagram and others over two Wednesdays August 19 and 26. We have openings in our Creative Writing class! Beginner Yoga is starting on Thursday mornings. Cook’N’Burra meet Tuesdays at the Anglican Church, learn about food, create a meal and make new friends. Don’t forget the Newcomer’s Luncheon on Monday, August 10 and please book for catering purposes.
The farm was originally called Lyrebird Mound and renamed Cluanie by the Macdonald family in 1904. The original humble cottage was built in the 1870s but by 1880 a more substantial cottage had been erected. This now forms the main living room of a much extended house, built around 1895. This charming homestead has undergone a transformation since Michael Sidell and Anne Vale bought the property in 2009. Some modern necessities and comforts have been incorporated into the restoration but most of the historic detail and character of the original homestead has been retained, ensuring Cluanie continues to as a tribute to the original pioneers of South Gippsland. “For five years we have had a constant round of local plumbers, electricians, engineers, fencers and every other type of tradesman you can imagine helping us to restore this property,” Anne said. “Some of the interior has been refitted, with a bespoke kitchen installed to reflect the original dresser that continues to provide good service. “We also wanted to open the house up to incorporate the outside. In Victorian times, homes were a place of
refuge, very inward looking. We have recently installed two pairs of French doors to open up the kitchen to the new courtyard. “Just off the living room, the addition of a small conservatory style breakfast room now provides views to the garden and the surrounding 150 year old elms and oaks.” In the early days kitchens were built away from the house in case of fire. Cluanie’s original kitchen is now a mud room but it still retains the original kauri pine sinks and the wooden bins once used to store rice, flour, sugar and other basics. Cast iron slow combustion wood heaters were installed in several rooms so the old chimneys could still be used. In the past five years, the couple’s friend, specialist painter and decorator Boyd Qualtrough, has repaired, restored and decorated each room one by one. “Boyd lives in Queensland so it is quite an undertaking to come to Victoria two or three times a year and stay for two weeks,” Anne said. “He has gradually worked his way from one end of the house to the other. We have been so fortunate to have him work on this house he is a real craftsman.” Only in the last few months has the original iron lacework been refitted to the veranda after being refurbished locally. “We knew this property was right for
us, because it ticked all the boxes: chocolate soil, a five acre dam and a heritage house. What more could a soil scientist and a garden historian ask for?” Anne said. The garden has been transformed with a mixture of shrubberies, perennial plantings and trees, set against a backdrop of century old trees and rolling hills. For the design, Anne has drawn on the lovely garden that existed during the 1930s and ’40s. “It is an old fashioned country garden of shrubs and trees, and curved garden beds interspersed with lawns,” she said. “The garden is divided into various areas to emphasise each aspect of the house. Pergolas, paths and the shapes of the garden beds encourage exploration and a transition from one part of the garden to another.” The original buggy house and stables remain, and are in need of restoration, but the original shearing shed was removed after a tree fell on it during a storm several years ago. “Preserving our history is important. It is a privilege to be part of the history of this property and to have the opportunity to ensure its survival,” Anne said. “It is not finished, it will never be finished, but Cluanie is now an excellent working farm with beautifully restored heritage homestead as the centrepiece.”
Probus groups out and about MEMBERS of Inverloch Probus, Inverloch Garden Club and Anderson’s Inlet Probus were in for a treat when their monthly bus outing took them to the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant and Gippsland Mushroom Farm. The group first travelled to the Desalination Plant where participants listened to an informative lecture providing insight into the operations of the plant. Chris Puyol and Anne Marie Chibber conducted a tour of the mushroom production process from spore to packaging. A range of mushrooms
Mushroom trip: Inverloch Probus, Anderson’s Inlet Probus and Inverloch Garden Club members with Chris Puyol and Anne Marie Chibber at Gippsland Mushroom Farm. were available for sale amongst the connoisseurs of the group. Inverloch and Ander-
son’s Inlet Probus clubs provide an array of bus trips for their members. Next month’s excur-
sion is set to be a wild one with a visit to Werribee Park and Zoo on the agenda.